WHAT CAN BE LEARNED FROM THE ROLLER COASTER JOURNEYS OF YOUNG PEOPLE MAKING ULTIMATELY SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS BEYOND SCHOOL?

This project investigated the interrelationships between family expectations and young people's post-school plans. All of the participants were from financially disadvantaged families. The research used interviews to understand these young people's perspectives of their transition experiences: the ways in which young people's school experiences impacted on their post-school pathways; how the young people weighed up costs and benefits in their decision-making; and exploration of the barriers and enablers encountered by the young people in their transition journeys. The findings endorsed the significant role played by families in young people's career decision-making and revealed some areas where such families might be provided with greater support.